louanne

I'd love to hear from fellow Fodorites who have used Spanish trains:
- are they usually on time?
- clean and comfortable? (in tourist class)
- can one buy tickets just before departure?
- do some ticket agents speak English?
- how are the connections?
I WILL BE TRAVELLING FROM SEVILLA TO JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA AND THEN FROM JEREZ VIA SEVILLA TO GRANADA!
Thanks all!

laclaire

Here you go:

1) Yes, they are almost always on schedule. In fact, the only time I have ever been late (and I have traveled with them for 8 years now), was due to serious technical difficulties and all of us were reimbursed according to policy.

2) Tourist class is generally cleaner and more comfortable than in an airplane (unless you are on a Diurno train, which is a little more "down home" to put it lightly).

3) Yes, you can go just before departure, but they do sell out, especially in the summer. I only do right before if it is an emergency or if it is off-season. You can do it on-line or by calling. Also, the wait at ticket counters can be really long.

4) It is a crapshoot, but as you are dealing with destinations, it is not so hard. Just be as clear and patient as possible and do not expect them to speak anything more than the most basic English.

For you:

from Granada to Jerez de la Frontera= de Granada a Jerez de la Frontera

the next tren= el próximo tren

toursit class= clase turista

5) Connections: depends on where you make them, but I venture to say that all stations, even the little ones, have cafes and restrooms. However, the smaller the place, the less likely you are to find any English whatsoever.

Claire

NEDSIRELAND

Except for two (2) thru trains daily, trains Sevilla-Jerez de la frontera are regional rail (commuter-type, all 2nd Class, non-reserved). The last time I rode that line, the regional rail trains didn't have luggage racks at the end of the Carriage (like Talgo), just overhead luggage racks. They run hourly from 6:53 AM and are almost always on time. It's just an hour or so between those two places.

Yes, you can buy your tickets just before departure.

There are separate ticket counters for Larga Distancia (AVE or Talgo) and Regional Rail. You would be more likely to encounter an english-speaking Ticket agent at the former. So, the answer to your question is: 'No.'

Sorry, I don't know about connections Sevilla-Granada. Get schedules at http://horarios.Renfe.es/hir/ingles.html
You can schedule yourself for either the 11:50 or 15:55 train from Sevilla to Granada and select the Andalucia Expres that will get you from Jerez to Sevilla with time enough to make your connection. It looks like there's one dep. Jerez, 09:42; arr. Sevilla, 10:45 that would leave you ample time at Sevilla Santa Justa to buy your tix & maybe a Bocadillo to take with you.

Intrepid1

We took one of the several (either three or four) direct trains from Seville to Granada this past July.

The train required seat reservations (which I wasn't aware of until we got onto the platform in Seville). I went to the ticket counter and easily obtained the reservations (we were traveling on passes) and had no trouble making myself understood.

The train trip took three hours and the inside of the train was immaculately clean. There was piped in music (somebody at Renfe obviously adores old Frank Sinatra records) which, if you weren't a Sinatra buff, eventually got somewhat annoying.

Many recommend taking a bus for this trip but I enjoyed the train ride.

BTW...don't be as ill-informed as I was. I had this notion that Granada is some sort of small town dominated by the Alhambra. Actually, it is a good-sized city which is dominated by the Alhambra!

louanne

Thank you so much for responding so completely. I really appreciate it!
LouAnne

louanne

I have a very tight connection on the Jerez-Sevilla-Granada link. 10 minutes to make the connection at the Sevilla station. Is this feasible?

NEDSIRELAND

Is that feasible? It depends on the time of day, how much luggage you will be carrying how many people come off the Jerez-Sevilla train, whether you have to buy your Ticket & reservation and if there's a queue at the ticket counter.

I am a Senior citizen: I couldn't make a 12 min connection from the Andalucia Exprés (Cadiz - Sevilla) to an AVE for Madrid. Two guys in front of me at the AVE ticket counter got their reservations with 5-minutes to spare; and went running down to the departure track, but I don't move that fast.

If you already have your ticket & seat reservation you may be able to make it; but they're not going to hold the train for you.

Why don't you schedule yourself on a Jerez-Sevilla train that allows you a reasonable time? The Jerez-Sevilla train runs almost hourly.